Family Dynamics 7400.607-080
School of Family and Consumer Sciences
Instructor: David D. Witt, Ph.D. Spring 2008
syllabus and notes are available on http://springboard.uakron.edu
Even Year Fall Semesters - Offered as a web course
Office Hours: By
Appointment.
Note: The Provost's Office requires that all
students
taking this class must be registered by the 14th day of classes.
Be aware of clickable assignments scattered
throughout the syllabus
Students
- At the end of the term please evaluate this class here
http://www3.uakron.edu/witt/evalform.htm
PURPOSE OF THE COURSE: We will explore the concept of the
family in social science using the tenets of several social
and social psychological theories, including:
structural-functional theory, the conflict perspectives, -social
exchange theory , symbolic interaction theory, human development
theories, and a form of general systems theory. It is the aim of
this course to gain some perspective on family life as it is understood
by social science. Therefore, we will attempt to merge all these ideas
into a single theoretical explanation of family life in our
society. We will also explore several middle range theories,
such as: theories of mate selection, theories of family violence,
family stress and coping, and family change. Finally, we will discuss
the family in terms of feminist, traditionalist, and critical vantage
points. By the end of the semester, students who have applied adequate
time to these issues will have a fundamental awareness of the tenets of
these theories.
The term dynamics connotes several levels of interaction and change.
At the macrolevel of social organization: historical change,
institutional interaction and the evolution of radical social change.
At the middle ecological level: intrafamilial interaction and
development of social relationships.
At the microlevel of development: individual growth and
development.
We will attempt to view the family in the context of its social
environment, its historical epoch, its specific familial organization,
and the variety of individuals that constitute its membership. We do
this because the omission of any one aspect would result in an
incomplete picture of family interaction
and development as it really is.
How to Study for This Course: We aim for scholarship in this
class. You should become intimately familiar with the interior of
Bierce Library, especially the Reference section,
the internet, and the basement of the library where academic journals
are kept in alphabetical order. Selected references are provided to you
to serve as a starting place for you to begin your
investigations. Outside reading is imperative if you are to gain your
rightful portion of knowledge from this class. We do this because the
best way to become scholars is to read the
work of other scholars.
Student Responsibilities For This Class: The key
to this class is preparation. Ask questions of the instructor as
these
occur to you, Turn in assignments on or before their due date.
You may work together
while preparing your essay assignments and as a tool to gain
understanding. However, your final drafts must be in your own words and
according to your personal understanding of the theories. Keep in mind
that each student will be evaluated on the merits of his or her answers
alone, which doesn't allow for rote responses. Nobody has the
answers to theoretical questions in social science. We are on a
path to figure out how society and we ourselves work.
Grading: Your grade is based on the four essay questions (100
points each). Your essay examination is attached to the syllabus and found on the springboard page. Your
final grade consists of 400 possible points divided by four.
Textbook: Your textbook consists of the online notes
detailed below and any outside reading you choose to do. Notes are cited for your further investigation
and reading, in addition to the references provided below.
Chapters are listed below in the Course Outline as
hyperlinks. Any other readings are to be found in
Bierce Library.
COURSE OUTLINE
Week 1 - Introduction to the Course Preface, Introduction to
Theories Chapter
1-2
Week 2 - Theory and Family Studies, Chapter 3
Week 3 - Structural-Functional Theories, Chapter
4
Week 4 -
Economic Conflict Theory, Chapter 5
Essay Question #1 due via
springboard dropbox
Week 5 - Interpersonal Confict Theory, Chapter 5
Week 6 - Symbolic Interaction Theory, Chapter 6
Week 7 - Social Exchange Theory, Chapter 7
Week 8 - Theories of
Human
Development, Chapter 8
Essay Question #2 due via
springboard dropbox
Week 9 - General Systems Theory, Chapter 9
Week 10 - Integration of Theories, Chapter 9
Week 11 - Essay Question #3 due via springboard dropbox
Week 12 - Middle Range Theories - I, Chapter 10
Week 13 - Middle Range Theories - II, Chapter
11
Week 14 - Political & Feminist Vantage Points, Chapter
12
Week 15 - Conclusion, Chapter 13
Finals Week - Essay Question #4 Due by 5:20 p.m. Thursday of Finals Week
Essay Examinations Questions for Family Dynamics
Instructor: D. D. Witt, Ph.D.
Your final draft of each essay should be typed and double spaced. Each
question should be answered concisely and thoroughly.
Read the questions carefully
before
beginning a thorough outline of each part (include your outline with
your
final draft).
Finally, write your answer in a critical, reflective
form.
You should be able to answer each question satisfactorily in about 1000
words.If you get stuck ask
questions of the instructor
in class.
Due dates for each question are listed in the course
outline.
1. Describe your own position on the usefulness of theory.
a.
Briefly compare the purpose of theory in social science with its
purpose in the helping professions.
b. Describe how theory-based
research might serve applications, such
as family therapy, social work, education, and/or service work?
c. Give
examples from your own work or theory based research that you feel should be undertaken?
2. This question concerns the "Self", or individual personality.
a. Pick some aspect of your individual development, evolution, or
change
over the years (your changing expectations of the world and of others
in
it (your evolving values, your developing moral or ethical standards,
your
sophistication at getting your needs met, and so on).
b. Pick two of the theories we have discussed so far and illustrate
(with
examples) how each theory describes, explains and predicts your chosen
aspect of development.
c. Use specific tenets of each theory in all parts of your answer.
3. This
question concerns the group "Family".
a. Pick some aspect of family
life (i.e., changing family needs, daily
interaction, first year of marriage, competing
member
needs, interpersonal attraction, and so on).
b. Pick three of the theories we have discussed (at least two of which
are different from the ones chosen in #2 above) and illustrate
(with
examples) some of the ways in which these theories describe, explain
and
predict your chosen aspect of family life.
c. Use specific tenets of each
theory in all parts of your answer.
4. Explain in general why some kind of systems approach to social
theory makes sense in terms of overall breadth and depth of a theory's
usefulness to researchers.
a. Discuss and explain the development of middle range theories in
social science as response to the conceptual failure of the grand
theories (i.e., structural-functional theory, personality theories,
economic theories).
b. Discuss Feminism as a theoretical issue and why the concepts
developed in social science, including an interpretation of the
development of social
expectations and an individual's motivation for interaction from a
Feminist point of view.
c. Describe and explain how a Feminist perspective changes the basic
thrust or meaning of symbolic interaction theory, social exchange
theory,
or conflict
theory (i.e. Discuss one of these theories in Feminist terms).
References for the Readings and Notes
used in 7400.607 Family Dynamidcs:
Overviews of Theory and Science
- Babbie, E. (1973). THE PRACTICE OF SOCIAL RESEARCH.
- Burr, W., et al. (1979). CONTEMPORARY THEORIES ABOUT THE FAMILY,
Vols.
I & II. New York: Free Press.
- Christensen, H. (1964). HANDBOOK OF MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY.
Chicago:
Rand McNally.
- Coleman, J.S. (1987). INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS, MARRIAGE &
FAMILY,
New York: Macmillan.
- Collins, R. (1988). SOCIOLOGY OF MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY: GENDER,
LOVE,
AND PROPERTY. Chicago: Nelson-Hall.
- Coser, L., and B. Rosenberg (1957) SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY: A BOOK OF
READINGS.
New York: MacMillan.
- Coser, L. (1971) MASTERS OF SOCIOLOGICAL THOUGHT. New York:
Harcourt
Brace Janovich.
- Kuhn, T. (1970). THE STRUCTURE OF SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTIONS.
Chicago: University
of Chicago Press.
- Landis, P. (1955). MAKING THE MOST OF MARRIAGE. New York:
Appleton-Century-
Crofts.
- Merton, R.K. (1967) SOCIAL THEORY AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE. New York:
Free
Press.
- Mullins, C. (1973). THEORIES AND THEORY GROUPS IN CONTEMPORARY
AMERICAN
SOCIOLOGY. New York: Harper and Row.
- Pirsig, R.M. (1974). ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE.
New
York: Bantam Books.
- Rychlak, J.F. (1972). INTRODUCTION TO PERSONALITY AND
PSYCHOTHERAPY:
A THEORY INSTRUCTION APPROACH. Noston: Houghton-Mifflin.
- Ritzer, G. (1982). CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY. New York:
Oxford.
- Touliatos, J., and N.H. Compton (1988). RESEARCH METHODS IN HUMAN
ECOLOGY/
HOME ECONOMICS. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State University Press.
- Turner, J. (1974) THE STRUCTURE OF SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY. Homewood,
Ill.:
Dorsey Press.
- Wallace, W. (1971). THE LOGIC OF SCIENCE IN SOCIOLOGY. Chicago:
Aldine.
- Watts, A. (1971). DOES IT MATTER? ESSAYS ON MANÆS RELATION
TO
MATERIALITY. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
Structural Functional Theory
- Bates, F.L., and C.C. Harvey (1975) THE STRUCTURE OF SOCIAL
SYSTEMS. New
York: Garnder Press.
- Parsons, T. (1949) THE STRUCTURE OF SOCIAL ACTION. Glencoe, Ill.:
Free
Press.
- Parsons, T. (1951) THE SOCIAL SYSTEM. New York: Free Press.
- Merton, R.K. (1957) SOCIAL THEORY AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE. New York:
Free
Press.
- McIntyre, J. (1966). "The structure-functional approach to family
study." In F.I. Nye and F. Berardo (Eds.) EMERGING
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORKS IN FAMILY ANALYSIS. New York: Macmillan.
- Winch, R.F. (1972). "Theorizing about the family." JOURNAL
OF COMPARATIVE FAMILY STUDIES. 3: 5-16.130
Conflict Theories
- Coser, L. (1956). THE FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL CONFLICT. Glencoe: Free
Press.
- Dahrendorf, R. (1959). CLASS AND CLASS CONFLICT IN INDUSTRIAL
SOCIETY.
Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press.
- Marx, K., & F. Engels (1848). THE COMMUNIST MANIFESTO.
London: J.E.
Burghard.
- Simmel, G. (1956). CONFLICT AND THE WEB OF GROUP AFFILIATION.
Translated
by K.H. Wolff. Glencoe, Ill.: Free Press.
- Sprey, J. (1971). "On the management of conflict in families."
JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY 33: 722-731.
- Sprey, J. (1969). "the family as a system in conflict."
JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY, 31: 699-706.
- Sprey, J. (1979). "Conflict theory and the study of marriage and
the family." pp. 130-159. in Burr, et al., (Eds.)
CONTEMPORARY
THEORIES ABOUT THE FAMILY, Vol. I, New York: Free Press.
Symbolic Interaction Theory
- Biddle, B.J., and E.J. Thomas (1966) ROLE THEORY: CONCEPTS AND
RESEARCH.
New York: Wiley.
- Blumer, H. (1969) SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM: PERSPECTIVE AND
METHOD.
Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
- Brown, R. (1965) SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY. New York: Free Press.
- Cooley, C.H. (1930) SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY AND SOCIAL RESEARCH. New
York:
Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
- Cooley, C.H. (1964) HUMAN NATURE AND THE SOCIAL ORDER. New York:
Schocken.
- Goffman, I. (1967) INTERACTION RITUAL. New York: Anchor Books.
- Goffman, I. (1967) THE PRESENTATION OF SELF IN EVERYDAY LIFE. New
York:
Doubleday.
James, W. (1890) THE PRINCIPLES OF PSYCHOLOGY. New York: Holt.
- Mead, G.H. (1934) MIND, SELF, AND SOCIETY. Chicago: The
University of
Chicago Press.
- _____ (1964) SELECTED WRITINGS. A. Rock (Ed.), Indianapolis:
Bobbs-Merril.
- Newcomb, T.M., R.H. Turner, P.E. Converse (1965) SOCIAL
PSYCHOLOGY:
THE STUDY OF HUMAN INTERACTION. New York: Holt, Rinehart and
Winston.
- Sarbin, T.R. (1954) "Role Theory." In G. Lindzey (Ed.) HANDBOOK
OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, VOL. I. Reading, Mass: Addison-Wesley.
- Thomas, W. I. (1926). THE UNADJUSTED GIRL. Boston: Little, Brown.
Social Exchange Theory
- Blau, P. (1964). EXCHANGE AND POWER IN SOCIAL LIFE. New York:
Wiley.
- Gouldner, A. (1960). "The norm of reciprocity." AMERICAN
SOCIOLOGICAL
REVIEW. 25: 161-179.
- Homans, G. (1974). SOCIAL BEHAVIOR: ITS ELEMENTARY FORMS. New
York:
Harcourt Brace Janovich.
- Nye, F.I. (1979) "Choice, exchange and the family."
In W.R. Burr, et al. (Eds.) CONTEMPORARY THEORIES ABOUT THE
FAMILY,
VOL. I. New York: Free
- Press.Walster, E., and G. Walster (1978). EQUITY: THEORY AND
RESEARCH.
Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Human Development Theories
- Aldous, J. (1978). FAMILY CAREERS: DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGE IN
FAMILIES. New
York: John Wiley.
- Bandura, A. (1978). "Reciprical determinism." AMERICAN
PSYCHOLOGIST,
February.
- Crain, W. (1985). THEORIES OF DEVELOPMENT: CONCEPTS AND
APPLICATIONS,
2nd Edition. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.
- Hill, R., and R. Mattessich (1982). "The developmental approach."
In P. Baltes and O. Brim (Eds.) LIFE-SPAN
DEVELOPMENT
AND BEHAVIOR, Vol. 2, New York: Academic Press.
- Maslow, A. (1970). MOTIVATION AND PERSONALITY. New York: Harper
&
Row.
- Muus, R.E., (1980). THEORIES OF ADOLESCENCE, 5th Edition.
New
York: Random House.
- Riegle, K. (1975). "Toward a dielectical theory of development."
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, 18: 50-64.
- Santrock, J.W. (1990). ADOLESCENCE, Fourth Edition. Dubuque,
Iowa: W.C.
Brown.
General Systems Theory
- Berrien, F.L. (1968). GENERAL AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS. New Brunswick,
New Jersey:
Rutgers University Press.
- Bertalanffy, L. (1951). "Problems of general systems theory."
HUMAN BIOLOGY, 23:302-312.
- Broderick, C., and J. Smith (1979). "The general systems approach
to the family." In W.B. Burr, et al. (Eds.) CONTEMPORARY THEORIES
ABOUT THE FAMILY, Vol. II, New York: Free Press.
- Cook, E.L. (1973). "Family analysis: A general systems strategy."
SOUTHERN SOCIOLOGIST, 4: 3-11.
- Kantor, D., and W. Lehr (1975) INSIDE THE FAMILY: TOWARD A THEORY
OF
FAMILY PROCESS. New York: Harper Colophon
- Steinglass, P. (1967). "The conceptualization of marriage from
a systems theory perspective." In T.J. Paolino and
B.S. McCrady (Eds.) MARRIAGE AND MARITAL THERAPY. New York:
Norton.
Mate Selection Theories
- Levinger, G., and H. Raush (1977). CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS:
PERSPECTIVES
ON THE MEANING OF INTIMACY. Amherst: University of
Massachusetts
Press.
- Murstein, B. (1980). "Mate selection in the 1970Æs."
JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY, 42: 777-792.
- White L.K. (1990). "Determinates of divorce: A review of research
in the eighties." JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY
52(Nov): 904-912.
Theories of Family Change
- Aries, P. (1979). "The family and the city in the old world and
the
new." In V. Tufte & B. Myerhoff (Eds.) CHAINGING IMAGES OF THE
FAMILY. New Haven: Yale Press.
- Hutter, J. (1982). THE CHANGING FAMILY. New York: Jon Wiley.
Family Communication Theories
- Galvin, K., and B. Brommel, (1984). FAMILY COMMUNICATION. Dallas:
Scott,
Foresman.
- Noller, P., and M.A. Fitzpatrick (1993). COMMUNICATION IN
FAMILY
RELATIONSHIPS. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.
- HUMAN COMMUNICATION RESEARCH: A JOURNAL
Domestic Violence
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CASEWORK, 62(January): 4.
- Elbow, M. (1977). "Theoretical considerations of marital
violence."
SOCIAL CASEWORK, 58: 517.
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6(June): 344.
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C. Thomas.
- Witt, D. (1989). "A conflict theory of family violence." JOURNAL
OF FAMILY VIOLENCE, 2(4): 291-302.
ABCX Theory of Family Stress
- Hill, R., and W. Waller. (1956) THE FAMILY: A DYNAMIC
INTERPRETATION.
New York:
- Hill, R. (1949). "FAMILIES UNDER STRESS. New York: Harper Row
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adaptation
to crises: A double ABCX Model of Family Behavior," In D.H. Olson
and B.C. Miller (Eds.) FAMILY STUDIES REVIEW YEARBOOK, VOL. 1.
Beverly
Hills: Sage.
Feminist Vantage Points
- Bennholdt-Thomsen, Veronika (1984) "Towards a theory of the
sexual
division of labor." pp.252-270. in J. Smioth, I. Wallerstein, and
H. Dieter Evers (eds.) HOUSEHOLDS AND THE WORLD ECONOMY. Beverly Hills,
CA: Sage.
- Breines, Wini (1986) "The 1950Æs: Gender and some social
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Peacock
Press.
- Myra Marx Ferree (1990). "Beyond separate spheres: Feminist and
family research." JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY 52(Nov): 866-884.
- Hall, R.M., and B.R. Sandler (1982) "The classroom climate:
A chilly one for women?" in Project on the Status and Education of
Women. Association of American Colleges, Feb.
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AND SOCIAL
PSYCHOLOGY. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
- Lipman,-Blumen, J. (1984) GENDER ROLES AND POWER. Englewood
Cliffs,
NJ: Prentice-Hall.
- Schiegel, A. (1977). SEXUAL STRATIFICATION: A CROSS-CULTURAL
VIEW. New
York: Columbia University Press.
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AND
SOCIAL CONTROL. New York: Random House.
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WOMENÆS
HOME AND MARKET WORK. New York: Praeger.
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law: Has Equality been achieved?" in Sargent, A.G.
BEYOND SEX ROLES.
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FEMINIST
QUESTIONS. New York: Dorsey Press.
- Voydanoff, P. (Ed.) (1984) WORK AND FAMILY: CHANGING ROLES OF MEN
AND
WOMEN. Palo Alto: Mayfield.
- Wallis, Claudia (1989) "Onward Women: Women Face the 90s."
TIME, December 4